Two Great Danes in Pennsylvania maul woman to death in front of her son

A Pennsylvania mother was mauled to death in front of her son while feeding her neighbor’s two Great Danes.

Kristen Potter, 38, was killed on Thursday after going over to feed her neighbors dogs, Perry County Coroner Robert Ressler said.  

The two dogs involved were put down, according to authorities, and a third Great Dane and its five puppies, also owned by the neighbor, were surrendered to a shelter.

Potter had gone over to her neighbor’s house with her young son, who witnessed the beginning of the attack before heading back home to urge his brother to call 911.

Although Great Danes are generally considered safe, a study by the CDC on dog attacks between 1979 and 1998 found that they were the fifth most dangerous breed, relative to population.

Katie Potter, 38, was killed on Thursday by two Great Danes she was feeding on behalf of her neighbor in Pennsylvania

Katie Potter, 38, was killed on Thursday by two Great Danes she was feeding on behalf of her neighbor in Pennsylvania

Pictured is a third Great Dane that was not involved in the attack but owned by Potter's neighbor. The third dog along with its five puppies were surrendered to an animal shelter whereas the dogs involved in the attack were put down

Pictured is a third Great Dane that was not involved in the attack but owned by Potter’s neighbor. The third dog along with its five puppies were surrendered to an animal shelter whereas the dogs involved in the attack were put down 

Pictured are the puppies that were also confiscated from owner Wendy Sabathne

Pictured are the puppies that were also confiscated from owner Wendy Sabathne

‘He was present at the scene, but I don’t think he was there for much of it,’ Ressler said of Potter’s son, according to WGAL.

‘As soon as he saw the dogs starting to attack his mother, he ran across the road to have his brother call 911.’

Are Great Danes dangerous? 

Despite their large size, a weight of 120 pounds for males and 100 pounds for females, Great Danes are widely considered to be good-natured and gentle animals.

‘Great Danes are typically good family dogs and do well with children,’ according to PetMD.

Although they are usually calm, improper care can make them dangerous.

However, if and when they do attack, their size can make them especially dangerous.

The dogs were once bred by German nobility to hunt and kill wild boars. They combined the height of the Irish wolfhound with the speed of the greyhound and the brawn of a mastiff.

As boar hunting went out of popularity they were bread to be more docile. 

Troopers said Potter died after being attacked by the Great Danes in the 700 block of Clouser Hollow Road in Centre Township, around 20 miles northwest of Harrisburg.

Ressler said the neighbor had asked Potter to feed the dogs while they were away and that it was something she had done before. 

He said that even after emergency services arrived they were unable to get to Potter and help her as the dogs were being so aggressive. Eventually they were tranquilized by animal services and eventually euthanized by a vet. 

The dogs’ owner, Wendy Sabathne, told Penn Live she was ‘heartbroken’.

‘I’m heartbroken, I’m in shock, I’m in disbelief and I just want to die,’ Sabathne said. ‘I can’t believe this happened.’

Potter’s father, Bill Keefer, told the outlet that one of the dogs had bitten her around two or three years ago.

A Facebook post has also emerged that reveals Potter asking for help earlier this year in dealing with a difficult neighbor. In it she also notes that she suffered the loss of her son and her husband.

‘I lost my son on this road almost 3 years ago, I don’t want to see another person getting hurt on this road when it is totally unnecessary,’ she wrote in January. 

‘Kristin just had a very beautiful personality,’ Jennifer Keefer, Kristin’s younger sister, told WGAL.

‘When you’re around her, you just feel better. When you talk to her, you just feel better,’ she added.

Although Great Danes are generally considered safe and good-natured, a study by the CDC on dog attacks between 1979 and 1998 found that they were the fifth most dangerous breed, relative to population

Although Great Danes are generally considered safe and good-natured, a study by the CDC on dog attacks between 1979 and 1998 found that they were the fifth most dangerous breed, relative to population

A Facebook post has also emerged that reveals Potter asking for help earlier this year in dealing with a difficult neighbor. It is not clear whether that neighbor was Sabathne

A Facebook post has also emerged that reveals Potter asking for help earlier this year in dealing with a difficult neighbor. It is not clear whether that neighbor was Sabathne

‘With all the tragedy that has happened in her life, she still had a high belief in God,’ she said. ‘She was just like that. She felt like there is a reason for everything.’

‘She was just loveable to be around,’ Keefer said. ‘Everyone loved her.’

Keefer says Kristin was a great artist and took a lot of pride in her land and animals and that she was a wonderful mother, and her two boys meant everything to her. 

‘She was my best friend,’ Keefer said.

‘You can talk to her about anything. She never judged you. She never judged anyone based on anything. She gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She always wanted to make up with people. Even people that did her wrong.’

In August last year, an Iowa woman was found in a ditch after being mauled to death by her five Great Danes.

Mindy Kiepe, 43, was found at a roadside a short distance from her farm surrounded by the animals by a man who initially believed she had been killed in a traffic accident.

It was later determined her fatal injuries were the result of dog bites. The five dogs were euthanized. 

source: dailymail.co.uk